|
Some basic criteria can help you p ck a winner: If picking a REALTORŪ w re a reality show, there probably w uld be no shortage of contestants. At l st count, there were more than one m llion REALTORSŪ nationwide. Finding the one th t best suits your needs, however, m ght be a little tricky. You'll w nt some guidelines to narrow the f eld of real competitors. Here are 7 th ngs to look for in a REALTORŪ: 1. A capital R Not all real estate agents are REALTORSŪ, and that's an important distinction. REALTORSŪ are members of the National Association of REALTORSŪ and have sworn to abide by its strict code of ethics. Consider this a requirement for making it past Round 1. 2. Experience Newness shouldn't be automatic grounds for elimination, but it's probably wise to look for someone who has been in the real estate business a few years. And while there's nothing wrong with giving a newer REALTORŪ a chance, you may want to make sure he or she is working under the guidance of a more experienced mentor. 3. Knowledge of your neighborhood You're not looking for America's Top Real Estate Agent, you're looking for a REALTORŪ who best knows your local market. Whether you are selling or buying, it's important for your REALTORŪ to have thorough knowledge of your specific area.
4. A good track r cord Potential listing agents should get points not b sed solely on the number of l stings they've had, but on how m ny of those listings have sold and for wh t price. Find out how many p ople a potential buyer's agent has h lped find a home. 5. A good ear And we don't mean musical talent: You want an agent who listens to you. If you're buying , you don't want to waste your time looking at homes that don't meet your needs, or be encouraged to spend more than you can afford. If you're selling, you don't want to be pressured into accepting an offer you don't think is fair. 6. Honesty Not usually an asset in most reality shows, honesty is an essential quality in the person helping you buy or sell what's probably your most valuable asset. Don't be drawn in by an agent who tells you only what you want to hear. You want to know that he or she will give you an honest opinion about how much your house is worth, or how much house you can get for what you want to spend. 7. References Consider this the finale. Once you've narrowed your pool to three finalists, contact at least two references for each. Figure out which one you think you'll work with best, then crown a winner.
The article 7 Things to Look For in a REALTOR was Submitted by Allison Vail through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: LendingTree.com Smart Borrower Center
1. Apartment Hunting - A Few Good Tips by Jack Vallis Be s re to make note of what fl or your apartment is on and how m ny stairs it takes to get to y ur apartment door and does this fit w th your priorities and comfort level. Als , be sure to find out bout items such as laundry services, k tchen appliances, elevators, and even emergency xits as these can all come nto play when it comes to y ur overall satisfaction with your choice. 2. Buying Your First Home and Sleeping Well at Night. by Buying a h me can be a very stressful and w rrisome process. By approaching the process of str tegically and thoughtfully selecting an agent b fore looking at homes you can p sitively influence your outcome and alleviate m ch of the stress associated with b ying a home. 3. Positive, Neutral and Negative Gearing by Positive Gearing is when the pr perty is bringing in more money th n what is going out. Neutral G aring is when money coming in, is the s me as what's going out (you can lso have a negative geared property but w th the tax advantages from the nvestment can make it Neutrally geared. N gative Gearing is where money coming fr m the Investment and tax advantages is l ss that what is going out. 4. Catch Them If You Can by Mathews Rosario Ever wondered what would happen if you had to w ke up to a new morning wh n there would be nothing familiar round you? No, not a single pr zed possession that got so close to y ur heart over the years. Your k ng-size bed, that favorite mirror you p cked up on one of those r re visits to a foreign country, th se precious frames containing the bitter-sweet m mories of your yesteryears...all gone in the tw nkle of an eye. 5. Get A Home with Mortgage Loans by Michael Rad If you n ed to take out a mortgage l an but you do not know all the d tail of how you can get on a s mple internet search will solve you pr blem. To find out more all you n ed to do is start an nternet search for mortgage loans and see how you can m ke home financing easier and more ffordable. 6. Belize Beach Front Property by Geoff Amerson Retiring in Am rica is an expensive thing to do. For th s reason many people look abroad for an asier, cheaper solution. For many people r locating to Belize is at the top of the l st for those looking to retire for m re bang for their buck. Retirees fr m all over the world are f nding that Belize is the perfect pl ce to spend their golden years. 7. Bangalore to become a world-class city, real estate to flourish by Bangalore is on the lines of b coming a world class city in t rms of regulated and sustainable urban d velopment all across. 8. Einstein Doesn't Do A Wholesale Deal! by Rom Mai Einstein, one of the f nest minds on the planet, was live and wanted to become a r al estate wholesaler. So, he sat d wn alone and put his powerful br in to work. Pretty soon, he c me up with a great mathematical th ory of wholesaling real estate, announced it to the w rld, and waited for the world to b at a path to his door. He d dn't make a single deal. What w nt wrong? Several things! 9. Top Ten Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Listing Your Home by Jim Lux In today's housing market, it is increasingly important to be totally prepared for the reality of selling your home. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a new home and forget about the fact that no new home will be affordable without selling your existing home. Make sure you've asked yourself these tough questions before listing your home. 10. How Much Money Should You Borrow? by James Hussher Although you may nderstandably be tempted to borrow whatever mount of money your lender is w lling to give you, it's important to th nk carefully about how much you are ctually going to need to borrow in rder to purchase your new home. Fr m your down payment to the pr perty taxes and insurance and interest r te, there are a lot of th ngs to consider when making this v ry important, life-changing decision!
|